Multipole double-throw relay

ABSTRACT

An electromagnetic relay whose armature moves alternately in opposite directions in response to alternate signals of the same polarity similarly applied to the same input terminals of the relay coil.

United States Patent Joseph W. Bird Dauphin, Pa.

Sept. 4, 1970 Nov. 16, 1971 Burroughs Corporation Detroit, Mich.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee MULTIPOLE DOUBLE-THROW RELAY 11 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 335/174, 310/35, 335/229 Int. Cl Hlh 9/20 Field of Search 335/174, 170, 229, 230, 265, 179, 184; ZOO/61.19, 153.14; 337/68; 310/34, 35,14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 707,967 8/1902 Griscom 310/35 3,119,940 1/1964 Pettitetal. 335/229 3,202,886 8/1965 Kramer 310/14 3,222,554 12/1965 Blomquist 310/35 Primary Examinerl-1arold Broome Attorney-Carl Cissell, Jr.

ABSTRACT: An electromagnetic relay whose armature moves alternately in opposite directions in response to alternate signals of the same polarity similarly applied to the same input terminals of the relay coil.

PATENTEnunv 1s m 3.621.414

SHEET 1 [IF 4 5a 5, I0 26 If/ 16030 5016 54 40 I Fi 4 INVENTOR. JOSEPH W. BIRD ATTORNEY PATENTEDNuv 16 ml 3. e21 .414

SHEET 0F 4 INVENTOR. JOSEPH W. BIRD ATTORNEY MULTIPOLE DOUBLE-THROW RELAY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to relays and particularly to an electromagnetic relay whose armature can be moved bidirectionally without the need for a special switching system. While not limited thereto, the invention finds special application as a microminiature relay in which its armature can be moved through minute distances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a relay which supplements the applied magnetic force for operating the relay.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relay whose armature can be moved bidirectionally in response to signals of the same polarity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relay in which contact bounce is significantly reduced or eliminated.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a relay in which the inertia of its armature is minimized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relay which is suitable for microminiature construction.

In accordance with the above objects and considered first in one of its broader aspects, a relay in accordance with the invention may comprise a frame, two latching magnets secured to the frame and an armature comprising two armature magnets and an interposer. The armature is mounted on the frame for sliding movement between two latching positions. One of the armature magnets is magnetically latched to one of the latching magnets at one of the latching positions and the other armature magnet is magnetically latched to the other latching magnet at the other latching position. A plurality of pairs of contacts are also provided and these are supported on the frame. Each pair of contacts are biased toward each other to a closed position so as to make contact if unrestricted. At least one pair of the contacts are held open by the interposer in either of the latching positions and at least one pair of the contacts are closed in either of the latching positions. A relay coil is also provided and this is magnetically coupled to the armature so as to form an electromagnet with the armature for moving the armature from one latching position to the other, the relay coil having its ends connected to certain of the contacts. An input circuit is connected to certain of the contacts for receiving an energizing current for the relay coil.

The invention will be more clearly understood when the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which is described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a relay constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view with portions broken away.

FIG. 3 is a plan view with portions broken away. FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but illustrates the armature latched in the opposite position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the armature magnets and latching magnets, and with the other parts omitted.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a double-pole double-throw equivalent circuit of the schematic diagram of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front view with parts broken away of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view with parts broken away of the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the invention similar to FIG. 10 but showing the armature latched in the opposite position.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 12- 12 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is an isometric exploded view of one of the latching magnet and contact support blocks of the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating the armature magnets and magnetic cores of the second embodiment of the invention, and with the other parts omitted.

FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 14 but illustrates the armature magnets latched in the opposite position, and also illustrates the opposite polarity of the magnetic cores.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit of the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a double-pole double-throw equivalent circuit of the schematic diagram of FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1-8, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, a frame base 10 has secured thereto, as by means of screws 12, two magnet and contact support blocks 14 and 16. Each of the support blocks 14 and 16 is constructed of three laminations between which the required number of pairs of contacts are supported. Thus, the support block 14 is made up of laminations 14a, 14b and 14c (FIGS. 3 and 5) and the support block 16 is similarly made up of laminations 16a, 16b and 16c. Each of the laminations 14b and 16b is provided with a central opening 18 and 20, respectively, in which is press fitted, or otherwise secured, latching magnets 22 and 24, (FIGS. 5 and 6) respectively. In the embodiment of the invention under discussion, the latching magnets 22 and 24 are permanent rod-shaped magnets and are arranged with unlike poles facing each other, and preferably coaxial.

Sandwiched between the support block laminations 14a, 14b and 14c are pairs of contacts 26 and 28, the contacts of each pair 26 and 28 being designated individually by the reference characters 260 and 26b, and 28a and 28b (FIGS. 3 and 7). Similarly sandwiched between the laminations 16a, 16b and 16c are pairs of contacts 30 and 32, the contacts of each pair 30 and 32 being designated individually by reference characters 30a and 30b, and 32a and 32b (FIGS. 3 and 7). The individual contacts of each of the pairs 26, 28, 30 and 32 are elastically biased toward each other so as to make contact if unrestricted.

An armature 34, slidably mounted in the assembly, comprises two armature bar magnets 36 and 38 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 6) which are held in spaced relation, with unlike poles facing each other, by means of side rails 40 and 42 (FIGS. 2-4) and screws 44 which secure the side rails 40 and 42 to the armature magnets 36 and 38. An interposer 46 constructed of an electrical insulating material is held securely between the rails 40 and 42 by having its reduced-diameter end portions 46a and 46b positioned in suitable openings 47 and 49 in the rails 40 and 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, the armature 34 is positioned against the frame 10 so that the support block 14 and leftward column of contact pairs 26 and 28 are disposed between the rails 40 and 42 and between the armature magnet 36 and interposer 46, and with the support block 16 and rightward column of contact pairs 30 and 32 disposed between the rails 40 and 42 and between the armature magnet 38 and interposer 46. A frame cover 48 is positioned over the armature 34, with a slight amount of clearance therebetween, so as to abut the outer laminations 14c and 16c of the support blocks 14 and 16. The frame cover 48 is secured to the assembly, as by means of screws 50 which are screwed into threaded holes in the support blocks 14 and 16. A relay coil 58 is wound about the assembly and is secured to the frame base 10 and frame cover 48 in any suitable manner, as by means of electrical insulating adhesive, not shown.

An input circuit for energizing the relay comprises input terminals 60 and 62 (FIG. 7) and leads 64 and 66. Lead 64 is connected to contact 30b, and to contact 26b through a jumper wire 68. Lead 66 is similarly connected to contact 32a, and to contact 28a'through a jumper wire 70. One end of the relay coil 58 is connected to the contact 32b through a conductor 72 and the other end of the relay coil 58 is connected to the contact 28b through a conductor 74.

The armature 34 may be moved from left to right and from right to left, as viewed in FIG. 2, between its two latching positions by energizing the relay coil 58. Thus, when the armature 34 is in its rightward position, which is designated the rightward latching position, it will be held in this position by attraction of the armature magnet 38 to the latching magnet 24 and when the armature 34 is in its leftward position, which is designated the leftward latching position, it will be held in this position by attraction of the armature magnet 36 to the latching magnet 22. Also, when the armature 34 is in the rightward latching position, the interposer 46 will hold open the rightward column of contacts 30a, 30b, 32a and 32b, and when the armature 34 is in the leftward latching position the interposer 46 will hold open the leftward column of contacts 26a, 26b, 28a and 28b.

The schematic diagram shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the rightward latching position of the armature 34 in which the contact pairs 26 and 28 are closed and the contact pairs 30 and 32 are held open by the interposer 46, which is represented diagrammatically in FIG. 7 as two parts 46 To cause the armature 34 to move to the leftward latching position, an energizing current for the relay coil 58 is applied to the input terminals 60 and 62. Thus, if the polarity of the current is such that current flows into the input terminal 60, for example, it will flow through the lead 64, jumper wire 68, contacts 26b and 26a, a conductor 76, the relay coil 58, conductor 74, contacts 28b and 28a, the jumper wire 70 and lead 66, and then out through the terminal 62. The relay coil 58 is so wound that its magnetic field will react with the magnetic fields of the armature magnets 36 and 38 so as to cause the armature 34 to move rapidly to the leftward latching position at which place the latching magnetic 24 will attract and hold the armature magnet 38, and thus latch the armature 34 in this position. With the armature 34 now in the leftward latching position, the interposer 46 will be holding open the contact pairs 26 and 28, and the contact pairs 30 and 32 will now be closed. The armature 34 may then be moved to the rightward latching position by applying a signal or current of the same polarity in a similar manner to the input terminals 60 and 62. In this case, the current will again flow into the input terminal 60 and will flow through the lead 64, contacts 30b and 30a, a conductor 78, the relay coil 58 in the opposite direction, conductor 72, contacts 32b and 32a and the lead 66, and then out through the terminal 62. Accordingly, each time an input signal of the same polarity is applied to the tenninals 60 and 62, the signal current will flow through the relay coil in the opposite direction, so that in response to successive input signals of the same polarity, the armature 34 will oscillate back and forth from one latching position to the other.

One or more surfaces of the armature 34, such as the exposed end faces 362 and 38e of the armature magnets 36 and 38, and the exposed end faces 40a and 40b and 42a and 42b of the rails 40 and 42, respectively, can be used for opening and closing contacts of an associated circuit, not shown. If desired, the contacts of the associated circuit to be operated by the present relay may be mounted directly on the support blocks 14 and 16 in a manner similar to the contact pairs 26, 28, 30 and 32, and similarly opened and closed by action of the interposer 46.

The schematic diagram shown in FIG. 8 is an electrical equivalent circuit of the one shown in FIG. 7 and has been illustrated to show the double-pole double-throw aspects of the illustrated embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 8, conductors 80 and 82 are connected to one end 58a of the relay coil 58 and conductors 84 and 86 are connected to the other end 58b of the relay coil 58. Accordingly, conductors 80 and 84 correspond to contacts 26a and 30a (FIG. 7), conductors 82 and 86 correspond to contacts 32b and 28b, contact arm 88 (FIG. 8) corresponds to contacts 26b and 30b and the jumper wire 68 connecting them, and the contact arm 89 (FIG. 8) corresponds to contacts 28a and 32a and the jumper wire 70 connecting them.

FIGS. 9-17 illustrate another modification of the invention in which the latching magnet and contact support blocks are constructed in the form of laminated spools 90 and 92 (FIGS. 9 and 13) and the latching magnets are constructed as electromagnets 94 and 96. Electromagnet 94 includes a latching coil 98 wound on the spool 90 and a magnetic core 102 press fitted or otherwise secured in the lamination 14b constructed of a highly remanent magnetic material. The electromagnet 96 similarly includes a latching coil 104 wound on the spool 92 and a magnetic core 106 press fitted or otherwise secured in the lamination 16b and constructed of a highly remanent magnetic material. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the latching coils 98 and 104 are interconnected in series and the series combination connected in parallel with the relay coil 58. The latching coils 98 and 104 are oppositely wound so that their magnetic fields produce like poles in the adjacent ends of the magnetic cores 102 and 106.

Accordingly, each time an input signal of the same polarity is applied to the input terminals 60 and 62 (FIG. 16) the signal current through the relay coil 58 and the latching coils 98 and 104 will reverse direction so that in the rightward position of the armature 34, the polarity of the magnetic cores 102 and 106 will be as shown in FIG. 14 and when the armature 34 is in the leftward latching position, the polarity of the magnetic cores 102 and 106 will be as shown in FIG. 15. With this construction, the inertia of the armature is more readily overcome and bouncing of the contacts and armature magnets is eliminated, or substantially reduced.

lclaim:

l. A relay comprising a frame, two latching magnets secured to said frame, an armature comprising two armature magnets and an interposer and mounted on said frame for sliding movement between two latching positions, one of said armature magnets being magnetically latched to one of said latching magnets at one of said latching positions and the other armature magnet being magnetically latched to the other of said latching magnets at the other latching position, a plurality of pairs of contacts supported on said frame, each pair of contacts biased toward each other to a closed position so as to make contact if unrestricted, at least one pair of said contacts being held open by said interposer in either of said latching positions and at least one pair of said contacts being closed in either of said latching positions, a relay coil magnetically coupled to said armature so as to form an electromagnet therewith for moving said armature from one latching position to the other and having its ends connected to certain of said contacts, and an input circuit connected to certain of said contacts for receiving an energizing current for said relay coil.

2. A relay according to claim 1 wherein the latching magnets and armature magnets are in line and the latching magnets are between the armature magnets.

3. A relay according to claim 2 wherein said interposer is between the latching magnets.

4. A relay according to claim 3 wherein each pair of contacts is between the armature magnets, and said pairs of contacts are arranged in columns so that at least one pair of contacts is in a first column between the interposer and one of said armature magnets and at least one pair of contacts is in a second column between the interposer and the other of said armature magnets, and the pairs of contacts in either column are held open by the interposer in one of said latching positions and the pairs of contacts in the other column are closed in the same latching position.

5. A relay according to claim 4 wherein each end of said relay coil is connected to a contact in both of said columns.

6. A relay according to claim 5 wherein the latching magnets are permanent magnets and unlike poles of adjacent ones of all of said magnets face each other.

7. A relay according to claim 5 wherein said latching magnets are electromagnets each comprising a latching coil and a magnetic core.

8. A relay according to claim 7 wherein each latching coil is connected in parallel with said relay coil.

9. A relay according to claim 8 wherein said latching coils are interconnected in series and the series combination connected in parallel with said relay coil.

10. A relay according to claim 9 wherein said latching coils are oppositely wound so that adjacent poles of said magnetic 5 cores are like poles.

11. A relay according to claim 10 wherein said magnetic cores are constructed of a highly remanent magnetic material. 

1. A relay comprising a frame, two latching magnets secured to said frame, an armature comprising two armature magnets and an interposer and mounted on said frame for sliding movement between two latching positions, one of said armature magnets being magnetically latched to one of said latching magnets at one of said latching positions and the other armature magnet being magnetically latched to the other of said latching magnets at the other latching position, a plurality of pairs of contacts supported on said frame, each pair of contacts biased toward each other to a closed position so as to make contact if unrestricted, at least one pair of said contacts being held open by said interposer in either of said latching positions and at least one pair of said contacts being closed in either of said latching positions, a relay coil magnetically coupled to said armature so as to form an electromagnet therewith for moving said armature from one latching position to the other and having its ends connected to certain of said contacts, and an input circuit connecTed to certain of said contacts for receiving an energizing current for said relay coil.
 2. A relay according to claim 1 wherein the latching magnets and armature magnets are in line and the latching magnets are between the armature magnets.
 3. A relay according to claim 2 wherein said interposer is between the latching magnets.
 4. A relay according to claim 3 wherein each pair of contacts is between the armature magnets, and said pairs of contacts are arranged in columns so that at least one pair of contacts is in a first column between the interposer and one of said armature magnets and at least one pair of contacts is in a second column between the interposer and the other of said armature magnets, and the pairs of contacts in either column are held open by the interposer in one of said latching positions and the pairs of contacts in the other column are closed in the same latching position.
 5. A relay according to claim 4 wherein each end of said relay coil is connected to a contact in both of said columns.
 6. A relay according to claim 5 wherein the latching magnets are permanent magnets and unlike poles of adjacent ones of all of said magnets face each other.
 7. A relay according to claim 5 wherein said latching magnets are electromagnets each comprising a latching coil and a magnetic core.
 8. A relay according to claim 7 wherein each latching coil is connected in parallel with said relay coil.
 9. A relay according to claim 8 wherein said latching coils are interconnected in series and the series combination connected in parallel with said relay coil.
 10. A relay according to claim 9 wherein said latching coils are oppositely wound so that adjacent poles of said magnetic cores are like poles.
 11. A relay according to claim 10 wherein said magnetic cores are constructed of a highly remanent magnetic material. 